585. Sunbeam Family Services's Trauma-Informed, Strengths-Based, Hope-Centered Fundraising - Sarah Rahhal and Angie Doss
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Overview
Meet Sarah and Angie. These visionary leaders from Sunbeam Family Services in Oklahoma City are sharing how they’ve woven trauma-informed, strength-based principles into every part of their org. From rethinking fundraising and storytelling to centering community relationships with intentional language and deep listening, they’re showing how nonprofits can truly build a culture of care (that’s filled with hope!). Tune in to discover how to embed these transformative principles into your own work.
💡 Learn
Sunbeam Family Services history + impact
The Importance of trauma-informed, strength-based approaches
Ways to prioritize organizational wellness
Today’s Guests
Sarah Rahhal, CEO, Sunbeam Family Services
Angie Doss, Chief Development & Marketing Officer, Sunbeam Family Services
“How do we keep learning and growing?”
Episode Transcript
Download Full Episode Transcript Here
Episode Highlights
Sarah’s story and journey to where she is today (4:00)
Angie’s story and journey to where she is today (5:35)
The history + impact of Sunbeam Family Services (10:00)
The principles of trauma-informed care (16:05)
Applying a trauma-informed lens to fundraising + marketing (21:20)
How Sunbeam prioritizes organizational wellness (29:40)
A powerful moment of philanthropy in Angie’s life (36:00)
A powerful moment of philanthropy in Sarah’s life (38:10)
Angie’s One Good Thing: Get curious about your own relationship with money. 42:10)
Sarah’s One Good Thing: How do I listen and set aside my experience, set aside my beliefs, to really hear what they're telling me in order for me to move the needle for them? (43:25)
How to get connected with Sunbeam Family Services (45:05)
Powerful Quotes
“How do we keep learning and growing?” -Sarah
“Trust is a back and forth process.” -Sarah
“Nonprofit work is full of passion. We have full hearts, yet we have to be a business. How do you do both so that staff feels cared for, and Sunbeam will also be here for 100 years long after I’m gone.” -Sarah
"If you wouldn't say it to their face, why are you putting it in your direct mail? Why are you putting it on social? Why are you sharing that part of the story that would make them feel less than when we're here to empower and support?" -Angie Doss
“We’ve done a lot of work focused on staff benefits.” -Sarah
"I had to change my perspective from the development and fundraising side of really putting on the different lenses and looking at different audiences of who is looking at our materials, it's not just your donors. It is the mom who is looking for care for her children, who wants the very best for them." -Angie
“People are bravely sharing their story, and we want to be very intentional in the language that we share, making sure that we're not re-traumatizing them." -Angie
“I read it from the perspective of the parent who just shared their story with me, and how would it make me feel if I was them?” -Angie
“There are 8 dimensions of wellness that I think about a lot. We really try to touch those in our benefits, policies, and practices.” -Sarah
“Look at how you train your supervisors. They’re being trained in reflective supervision.” -Sarah
“If you don’t really pour into yourself, you can’t pour into others.” -Sarah
“Everyone has unique needs, but if we strive to continually evaluate all that we do, that is crucial to any nonprofit or for-profit.” -Sarah
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Connect with Angie
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